A CHRONOLOGICAL VIEW OF WESTERN MUSIC HISTORY IN THE CONTEXT OF WORLD EVENTS

Roy Harris

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March 15, 1926: Impressions of a Rainy Day for string quartet by Roy Harris (28) is performed for the first time, in the Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles.
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April 23, 1926: Andante for orchestra by Roy Harris (28) is performed for the first time, at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York Howard Hanson (29) conducting.
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March 20, 1927: The John Simon Guggenheim Foundations fellowships are announced, including ones for Roy Harris (29) and Bernard Rogers (34).
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May 6, 1927: Concerto for piano, clarinet, and string quartet by Roy Harris (29) is performed for the first time, in the Salle Gaveau, Paris by the Société Musicale Indépendante, Nadia Boulanger (39) at the keyboard. Also premiered is the Trio for flute, clarinet, and bassoon op.92 by Charles Koechlin (59).
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May 1, 1928: Song Cycle on Words of Whitman for women’s voices and two pianos by Roy Harris (30) is performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York City. One piano is played by Carlos Chávez (28).
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May 30, 1928: Capital Capitals for four male vocal soloists and piano by Virgil Thomson (31) to words of Stein, is performed for the first time, at the Nouvelle Salle d’orgue du Conservatoire, Paris. Present are Stein and Alice B. Toklas, Nadia Boulanger (40), Darius Milhaud (35), Roy Harris (30), and Jean Cocteau. Press reactions are mixed.
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February 24, 1929: Piano Sonata by Roy Harris (31) is performed for the first time, in the Little Theatre, New York.
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June 17, 1929: A concert entitled “Concert d’Oeuvres de Jeunes Compositeurs Américains”, organized by Aaron Copland (28) and Nadia Boulanger (41), takes place at the Salle Chopin, Paris. Featured on the program are works by Copland, Carlos Chávez (30), and Roy Harris (31). Several works for voice and piano by Virgil Thomson (32) are performed for the first time, the composer at the piano: Susie Asado, La Seine, and the cycle Preciosilla, all to words of Stein, Le Berceau de Gertrude Stein, ou La Mystère de la Rue de Fleurus and the cycle La Valse grégorienne, both to words of Hugnet.
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April 6, 1930: New works by American composers are performed for the first time, at a League of Composers’ Concert in New York: Five Songs on Poems by Carl Sandburg (first public) by Ruth Crawford (28), Piano Sonata by Roy Harris (32), and Three Poems by ee cummings for voice and piano by Marc Blitzstein (25). See 12 December 1929.
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April 13, 1930: String Quartet no.1 by Roy Harris (32) is performed for the first time, in the President Theatre, New York.
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March 22, 1931: Andantino for orchestra by Roy Harris (33) is performed for the first time, in Philharmonic Auditorium, Los Angeles.
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April 10, 1932: Fantasy for woodwinds, horn, and piano by Roy Harris (34) is performed for the first time, in Pasadena Community Playhouse, Pasadena, California.
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May 21, 1932: Toccata for orchestra by Roy Harris (34) is performed for the first time, in a version for two pianos, in New York.
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December 29, 1932: Overture “From the Gayety and Sadness of the American Scene” for orchestra by Roy Harris (34) is performed for the first time, in Philharmonic Auditorium, Los Angeles.
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October 1, 1933: Concerto for string sextet by Roy Harris (35) is performed for the first time, at the Yaddo Estate, Saratoga Springs, New York. Also premiered is Charles Ives’ (58) song Where the eagle cannot see to words of Turnbull. The pianist in the Ives is Aaron Copland (32).
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October 22, 1933: Three Variations on a Theme (String Quartet no.2) by Roy Harris (35) is performed for the first time, in Orchestra Hall, Chicago.
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January 26, 1934: Symphony: 1933 by Roy Harris (35) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
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February 25, 1934: Four Minutes-20 Seconds for flute and string quartet by Roy Harris (36) is performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York.
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August 10, 1934: A Song for Occupations for chorus by Roy Harris (36) to words of Whitman is performed for the first time, in Middlebury, Vermont.
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September 20, 1934: Trio for piano, violin, and cello by Roy Harris (36) is performed for the first time, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the composer at the keyboard.
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January 13, 1935: Roy Harris’ (36) When Johnny Comes Marching Home Overture is performed for the first time, in Cyrus Northrup Memorial Auditorium, Minneapolis. See 15 February 1942.
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October 30, 1935: The Composers’ Forum Laboratory, a branch of the Federal Music Project, opens at the Midtown Community Music Center, 93 Park Avenue in New York with a concert of music by Roy Harris (37). Among the advisory committee for the Laboratory are Aaron Copland (34) and Edgard Varèse (51).
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November 19, 1935: Poem for violin and piano by Roy Harris (37) is performed for the first time, at a meeting of the National Association for Composers and Conductors in the New York apartment of Henry Hadley.
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February 28, 1936: Two new works by Roy Harris (38) are performed for the first time, in separate concerts: Symphony no.2 in Symphony Hall, Boston and Prelude and Fugue for strings at the Philadelphia Academy of Music.
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March 27, 1936: Farewell to Pioneers by Roy Harris (38) is performed for the first time, in the Philadelphia Academy of Music conducted by Carlos Chávez (36).
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May 20, 1936: Symphony for Chorus by Roy Harris (38) is performed for the first time, at the Westminster Choir School, Princeton, New Jersey.
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June 14, 1936: Roy Harris (38) writes to Henry Cowell (39) offering assistance during his ongoing legal struggle.
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October 10, 1936: Roy Harris (38) marries Beula (Johana) Duffey, pianist and composer, in Union, Oregon. It is his fourth marriage.
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October 12, 1936: The Story of Norah for chorus by Roy Harris (38) to words of Niles is performed for the first time, at the French Institute, New York. It was first performed in a radio broadcast in 1936.
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February 12, 1937: Piano Quintet by Roy Harris is performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York on the composer’s 39th birthday.
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August 8, 1937: Time Suite for orchestra by Roy Harris (39) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of WABC, New York.
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December 19, 1937: 48 composers meet in New York to form the American Composers Alliance “to regularize and collect all fees pertaining to the performance of copyrighted music.” A temporary executive committee is appointed, including Wallingford Riegger (52), Virgil Thomson (41), Roger Sessions (40), Roy Harris (39), and Aaron Copland (37).
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August 9, 1938: String Quartet no.3 by Roy Harris (40) is performed for the first time, at the Juilliard School, New York.
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February 24, 1939: Symphony no.3 by Roy Harris (41) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
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March 31, 1939: Two works for chorus are performed for the first time, in Temple Emanu-El, New York: Heart not so Heavy as Mine by Elliott Carter (30) to words of Dickinson, and Chorale Fanfare by Roy Harris (41) to words of Taggard.
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April 23, 1939: Three new works are performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York: Quartet for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano, and Sonata for viola and piano no.3, both by Paul Hindemith (43) as well as the Soliloquy from Soliloquy and Dance for viola and piano by Roy Harris (41). See 10 March 1940.
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May 7, 1939: Prologue for chorus and orchestra by William Schuman (28) to words of Taggard, is performed for the first time, in New York by the New York Federal Symphony and funded by the Federal Music Project. This concert is the first FMP concert featuring all-Guggenheim recipients. Along with Schuman, music by Aaron Copland (38), Roy Harris (41), Walter Piston (45), and Paul Nordoff is performed.
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May 13, 1939: Prelude and Fugue for strings and four trumpets by Roy Harris (41) is performed for the first time, at the High School of Music and Art, New York.
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October 24, 1939: Cowboy Songs for orchestra by Roy Harris (41) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of CBS radio originating in New York.
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March 10, 1940: Soliloquy and Dance for viola and piano by Roy Harris (42) is performed completely for the first time, at the Museum of Modern Art, New York. See 23 April 1939.
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April 14, 1940: Quintet for two violins, two violas, and cello by Roy Harris (42) is performed for the first time, in Coolidge Auditorium of the Library of Congress, Washington. Also premiered is Divertimenti for flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon by Frank Bridge (61).
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April 25, 1940: Symphony no.4 “Folksong Symphony” for chorus and orchestra by Roy Harris (42) is performed for the first time, conducted by Howard Hanson (43) at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York.
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June 25, 1940: In Lewisohn Stadium, New York, two works by American composers are performed for the first time: And They Lynched Him on a Tree, a cantata by William Grant Still (45) to words of Chapin, and Challenge 1940 for baritone, chorus, and orchestra by Roy Harris (42).
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October 30, 1940: American Creed for orchestra by Roy Harris (42) is performed for the first time, in Orchestral Hall, Chicago.
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November 8, 1940: The second and third movements of Roy Harris’ (42) ballet Song of the West are performed for the first time, at Madison College, Harrisonburg, Virginia. See 17 January 1942.
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December 2, 1940: Two songs for voice and piano by Roy Harris (42) are performed for the first time, in Cos Cob, Connecticut: Evening Song to words of Tennyson and La Primavera, a folksong arrangement.
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December 15, 1940: A Red-Bird in a Green Tree, a folksong arrangement for chorus by Roy Harris (42), is performed for the first time, at Western Kentucky State Teachers College, Bowling Green.
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February 22, 1941: Ballad of a Railroad Man for chorus and orchestra by Roy Harris (43) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of WNYC originating at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.
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February 23, 1941: Roy Harris’ (43) symphonic overture Cimarron for band is performed for the first time, in Mandel Hall at the University of Chicago.
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March 8, 1941: Evening Piece (no.2 of the Three Pieces for orchestra) by Roy Harris (43) is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall.
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March 9, 1941: Ode to Truth for orchestra by Roy Harris (43) is performed for the first time, in Memorial Chapel, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California.
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August 7, 1941: From this Earth, a ballet by Roy Harris (43) to his own scenario, is performed for the first time, at Colorado College, Colorado Springs.
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October 12, 1941: Freedom’s Land for chorus by Roy Harris (43) to words of MacLeish is performed for the first time, in a CBS radio broadcast originating in Sage Chapel, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.
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November 2, 1941: Acceleration for orchestra by Roy Harris (43) is performed for the first time, in Washington.
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January 17, 1942: Song of the West, a ballet by Roy Harris (43), is performed completely for the first time, in Humphrey-Weidman Studio Theatre, New York. See 8 November 1940.
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February 15, 1942: When Johnny Comes Marching Home for band by Roy Harris (44) is performed publicly for the first time, in Mandel Hall at the University of Chicago.
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April 14, 1942: Concerto for piano and band by Roy Harris (44) is performed for the first time, in Hill Auditorium at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
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August 8, 1942: Two works by Roy Harris (44) are performed for the first time, at Colorado College, Colorado Springs: Namesake (A Theatre Dance) for violin and piano, and What So Proudly We Hail, a ballet for chorus, strings, and piano.
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October 30, 1942: Sonata for violin and piano by Roy Harris (44) is performed for the first time, in Coolidge Auditorium, Library of Congress, Washington. He is awarded the Coolidge Medal by the library.
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December 27, 1942: Piano Suite in Three Movements by Roy Harris (44) is performed for the first time, at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.
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January 6, 1943: Sammy’s Fighting Sons for chorus and orchestra by Roy Harris (44) is performed for the first time, in New York.
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February 26, 1943: Symphony no.5 by Roy Harris (45) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
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September 26, 1943: Chorale for Organ and Brass by Roy Harris (45) is performed for the first time, in Germanic (now Busch-Reisinger) Museum, Cambridge, Massachusetts. See 22 July 1944.
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December 19, 1943: Folk Rhythms of Today for orchestra by Roy Harris (45) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of the NBC radio network originating in New York.
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December 30, 1943: March in Time of War for orchestra by Roy Harris (45) is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall.
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January 30, 1944: Take the Sun and Keep the Stars for chorus and band by Roy Harris (45) to his own words is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of NBC radio originating in Denver, the composer conducting.
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April 14, 1944: Symphony no.6 “Gettysburg” by Roy Harris (46) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston, on the 79th anniversary of the murder of Abraham Lincoln.
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July 22, 1944: Chorale for Orchestra, a transcription by Roy Harris (46) of his Chorale for Organ and Brass is performed for the first time, in Bedford, United Kingdom. See 26 September 1943.
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July 29, 1944: Rhythms of Today for band by Roy Harris (46) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of radio station KOA originating in Ft. Logan, Colorado the composer conducting.
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August 18, 1944: Piano Concerto no.1 (performed as Fantasy for two pianos) by Roy Harris (46) is performed for the first time, at Colorado College, Colorado Springs. See 19 September 1944. Also on the program is the premiere of Harris’ Lamentation for wordless soprano, viola, and piano.
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August 20, 1944: Fantasia for piano and band by Roy Harris (46) is performed for the first time, at Colorado College, Colorado Springs.
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September 19, 1944: Piano Concerto no.1 by Roy Harris (46) is performed for the first time in its orchestral setting, over the airwaves of the Blue Network, conducted by the composer. See 18 August 1944. Also on the program, Harris conducts the premiere of his Rock of Ages for chorus and orchestra.
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September 24, 1944: Toccata for organ and brass by Roy Harris (46) is performed for the first time, in the Busch-Reisinger Museum, Cambridge, Massachusetts the composer conducting.
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November 16, 1944: Ode to Friendship for orchestra by Roy Harris (46) is performed for the first time, in Madison Square Garden, New York the composer conducting.
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March 23, 1945: Variations on a Theme by Goosens is performed for the first time, in Cincinnati. The theme is followed by variations from Paul Creston, Aaron Copland (44), Deems Taylor, Howard Hanson (48), William Schuman (34), Walter Piston (51), Roy Harris (47), Bernard Rogers (52), Ernst Bloch (64) and Eugene Goosens.
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April 1, 1945: Roy Harris’ (47) motet Alleluia for chorus and brass is performed for the first time, in Grace Episcopal Church, Colorado Springs.
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June 17, 1945: Two works for orchestra are performed for the first time, over the airwaves of NBC radio originating in San Francisco: Mirage by Roy Harris (47) and Horizon by Samuel Barber (35).
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August 18, 1945: Walt Whitman Suite for chorus, string quartet, and piano by Roy Harris (47) is performed for the first time, at Colorado College, Colorado Springs. This is the premiere of this work as a ballet. The first performance in concert was in 1944.
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January 9, 1946: Children’s Hour for orchestra by Roy Harris (47) is performed for the first time, in the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House.
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February 21, 1946: Memories of a Child’s Sunday for orchestra by Roy Harris (48) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of CBS radio originating in Carnegie Hall.
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April 14, 1946: The Birds’ Courting Song for chorus by Roy Harris (48) is performed for the first time, in Times Hall, New York. Also premiered is Hymn and Fuguing Tune no.5 for five voices by Henry Cowell (49).
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April 14, 1946: Radio Piece for orchestra by Roy Harris (48) is performed for the first time, at the Eastman School of Music, Rochester, New York the composer conducting.
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May 10, 1946: New works on Jewish themes are performed for the first time, in the Park Avenue Synagogue, New York: Kiddush for cantor, chorus, and organ by Kurt Weill (46), The Voice of the Lord (Psalm 29) for solo voice, chorus, and piano by William Grant Still on the eve of the composer’s 51st birthday, and Mi Chomocho for tenor or baritone, chorus, and organ by Roy Harris (48) to words from Exodus.
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May 12, 1946: Melody for orchestra by Roy Harris (48) is performed for the first time, in McMillan Academic Theatre, Columbia University, New York.
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May 12, 1946: Blow the Man Down for vocalist, chorus, and orchestra by Roy Harris (48) to words of Tennyson is performed for the first time, in Public Auditorium, Cleveland.
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October 25, 1946: Celebration Variations on a Timpani Theme from Howard Hanson’s Third Symphony for orchestra by Roy Harris (48) is performed for the first time, in Symphony Hall, Boston.
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January 21, 1947: Concerto for two pianos and orchestra by Roy Harris (48) is performed for the first time, in Denver.
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June 1, 1947: Theme and Variations for solo accordion and orchestra by Roy Harris (49) is performed for the first time, in Orchestra Hall, Chicago.
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August 17, 1947: Wedding Song for baritone, string trio, and organ by Roy Harris (49) to words of Gibran is performed for the first time, in Shore Chapel, Colorado College, Colorado Springs.
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January 29, 1948: The Quest for orchestra by Roy Harris (49) is performed for the first time, in Murat Theatre, Indianapolis.
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February 28, 1948: A farewell concert in honor of Hanns Eisler (49) is presented in Town Hall, New York. Among those sponsoring the event are Walter Piston (54), Roger Sessions (51), Roy Harris (50), Aaron Copland (47), David Diamond (32), Leonard Bernstein (29), and Randall Thompson. Eisler will be deported next month.
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May 13, 1948: Mass for male chorus and organ by Roy Harris (50) is performed for the first time, in St. Paul’s Chapel, Columbia University, New York.
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December 14, 1948: Elegy and Paean for viola and orchestra by Roy Harris (50) is performed for the first time, in Houston.
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April 5, 1949: Kentucky Spring for orchestra by Roy Harris (51) is performed for the first time, in Columbia Auditorium, Louisville conducted by the composer.
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May 10, 1949: Fruit of Gold for band by Roy Harris (51) is performed for the first time, in UCLA Royce Hall, Westwood, California.
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April 13, 1950: Dark Devotion for band by Roy Harris (52) is performed for the first time, in Memorial Auditorium, Louisville.
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August 29, 1950: Toccata for piano by Roy Harris (52) is performed in a concert for the first time, at the Drake Hotel, Chicago. It was first performed in a radio broadcast last Autumn.
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December 8, 1950: Kentucky Jazz Piece for dance band by Roy Harris (52) is performed for the first time, at Western Kentucky State College, Bowling Green the composer conducting.
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October 19, 1951: Cumberland Concerto for orchestra by Roy Harris (53) is performed for the first time, in the Music Hall, Cincinnati.
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December 7, 1951: Three Symphonic Essays for orchestra by Roy Harris (53) is performed for the first time, at the Juilliard School, New York.
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May 30, 1952: Three new works commissioned for the sesquicentennial of the United States Military Academy Band are performed at West Point, New York: Fantasie (Enigma Variations) on a Theme by Ferdinand Kücken by Henry Cowell (55) (world premiere), West Point Suite by Darius Milhaud (59), and Symphony in One Movement by Roy Harris (54) (world premiere). See 5 January 1952.
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November 20, 1952: Symphony no.7 by Roy Harris (54) is performed for the first time, in Orchestra Hall, Chicago conducted by the composer.
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February 19, 1953: US Secretary of State John Foster Dulles orders the removal from International Information Administration libraries and Voice of America broadcasts, any music by a communist or communist sympathizer. These include works by Aaron Copland (52), George Gershwin (†15), Roger Sessions (56), Virgil Thomson (56), Roy Harris (55), and Leonard Bernstein (34).
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December 9, 1953: Piano Concerto no.2 by Roy Harris (55) is performed for the first time, in Columbia Auditorium, Louisville, the composer conducting.
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January 30, 1954: Symphonic Fantasy for orchestra by Roy Harris (55) is performed for the first time, in Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh.
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July 4, 1954: Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight, a cantata by Roy Harris (56) to words of Lindsay, is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of CBS radio originating in Pittsburgh. See 13 October 1954.
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October 13, 1954: Abraham Lincoln Walks at Midnight, a cantata by Roy Harris (56) to words of Lindsay, is performed in a concert for the first time, in Carnegie Music Hall, Pittsburgh. See 4 July 1954.
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November 14, 1954: Symphonic Epigram for orchestra by Roy Harris (56) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of CBS radio originating in Carnegie Hall, New York.
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November 17, 1954: Fantasy for piano and orchestra by Roy Harris (56) is performed for the first time, in Hartford, Connecticut the composer conducting.
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February 22, 1956: Movements 1, 2, 3, and 5 of Folk Fantasy for Festivals for folksingers, soloists, speakers, chorus, and piano by Roy Harris (58) are performed for the first time, at the Juilliard School of Music, New York. See 14 November 1957 and 6 May 1963.
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July 14, 1956: Ode to Consonance for orchestra by Roy Harris (58) is performed for the first time, in Hotel Netherland Hilton, Cincinnati.
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May 16, 1957: A setting of Psalm 150 for chorus by Roy Harris (59) is performed for the first time, at Pennsylvania State University the composer conducting.
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November 14, 1957: The fourth movement of Folk Fantasy for Festivals for folksingers, soloists, speakers, chorus, and piano by Roy Harris (59) is performed for the first time, in University Auditorium, Oklahoma State University. See 22 February 1956 and 6 May 1963.
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March 8, 1958: Ad Majorem Gloriam, Universitatis Illinorum, a tone poem for band by Roy Harris (60) is performed for the first time, in University Auditorium, Urbana.
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April 19, 1958: Elegy and Dance for orchestra by Roy Harris (60) is performed for the first time, in Public Auditorium, Portland, Oregon the composer conducting.
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September 19, 1958: Today marks the first meeting in a cultural exchange between composers in the United States and the USSR. The meeting takes place in the Hall of Composers at the Moscow Composers’ Union. American visitors include Roger Sessions (61), Roy Harris (60), Ulysses Kay (41), and Peter Mennin (35).
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October 15, 1958: The high point of a cultural exchange between Soviet and American composers in Moscow takes place in a concert by the Moscow State Radio Orchestra in Tchaikovsky Hall. Works performed include Peter Mennin’s (35) Symphony no.6, the Symphony no.5 by Roy Harris (60), Roger Sessions’ (61) Suite from The Black Maskers, and Of New Horizons by Ulysses Kay (41).
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August 7, 1960: Robert Ashley (30), Gordon Mumma (25), Roger Reynolds (26), and George Cacioppo, having driven from Ann Arbor, Michigan, attend a week-long composers’ conference organized by the Canadian League of Composers in Stratford, Ontario. Among the luminaries present are Luciano Berio (34), Edgar Varèse (76), Roy Harris (62), Ernst Krenek (59), and George Rochberg (42). The four decide that they could organize a better conference and by the time they arrive home, they have planned the ONCE Festival.
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April 27, 1961: Two new works by American composers are performed for the first time, at Howard University in Washington under the baton of Howard Hanson (64): Symphony no.14 by Henry Cowell (64) and Give Me the Splendid Silent Sun for bass and orchestra by Roy Harris (63) to words of Whitman.
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August 7, 1961: Incidental music to a play by Lawrence and Lee, Turn on the Night, by Roy Harris (63) is performed for the first time, in John B. Kelly Playhouse-in-the-Park, Philadelphia. The music was recorded from 13-29 July 1961 in San Germán, Puerto Rico.
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September 12, 1961: Canticle of the Sun for soprano and chamber ensemble by Roy Harris (63) to words of Francis of Assisi, is performed for the first time, in Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress, Washington the composer conducting.
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November 13, 1961: Pablo Casals gives a recital at the White House before President and Mrs. Kennedy and 200 invited guests. Among those attending are the elite of the musical culture of the United States: Walter Piston (67), Howard Hanson (65), Virgil Thomson (64), Roger Sessions (64), Henry Cowell (64), Roy Harris (63), Aaron Copland (60), Elliott Carter (52), Samuel Barber (51), William Schuman (51), Alan Hovhaness (50), Gian Carlo Menotti (50), Norman Dello Joio (48), Leonard Bernstein (43), Eugene Ormandy, and Leopold Stokowski. The concert is recorded and will be televised. Bernstein will recall “I’ve never seen so many happy artists in my life.”
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January 17, 1962: Symphony no.8 by Roy Harris (63), commissioned to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the San Francisco Orchestra, is performed for the first time, in the War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco.
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September 23, 1962: Connotations for orchestra by Aaron Copland (61) is performed for the first time, at the inauguration of Lincoln Center, directed by Leonard Bernstein (44). The concert is televised by the CBS television network. Among the attenders are composers Walter Piston (68), Roger Sessions (65), Henry Cowell (65), Roy Harris (64), Samuel Barber (52) and the Center’s director, William Schuman (52), along with Rudolf Bing, Isaac Stern, Secretary-General of the United Nations U Thant, first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, Secretary of State Dean Rusk, UN Ambassador Adlai Stevenson, Governor Nelson Rockefeller, and New York Mayor Robert Wagner.
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January 18, 1963: Symphony no.9 by Roy Harris (64) is performed for the first time, in the Philadelphia Academy of Music.
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May 6, 1963: Folk Fantasy for Festivals for folk singers, soloists, speakers, chorus, and piano by Roy Harris (65) is performed completely for the first time, at San Francisco State College. See 22 February 1956 and 14 November 1957.
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August 4, 1963: These Times for small orchestra and piano concertante by Roy Harris (65) is performed for the first time, in Sherwood Hall Art Center, La Jolla, California the composer conducting.
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April 19, 1964: Sonata for cello and piano by Roy Harris (66) is performed for the first time, in the Main Auditorium of San Francisco State College. It is programmed under the name “Duo.”
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May 10, 1964: Epilogue to Profiles in Courage: JFK, an orchestral work by Roy Harris (66), is performed for the first time, in Royce Hall at UCLA.
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May 16, 1964: Jubilate for Worship for chorus, brass, piano, and percussion by Roy Harris (66) is performed for the first time, in the First Unitarian Church of San Francisco.
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June 14, 1964: Horn of Plenty for orchestra by Roy Harris (66) is performed for the first time, in the auditorium of Beverly Hills High School, California.
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June 23, 1964: Fantasy for organ, brass, and timpani by Roy Harris (66) is performed for the first time, in Philadelphia, the composer conducting.
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July 9, 1964: Etudes for Pedals for organ by Roy Harris (66) is performed for the first time, at Columbia University.
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February 28, 1965: Salute to Youth for orchestra by Roy Harris (67) is performed for the first time, in Lobero Theatre, Santa Barbara, California.
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April 14, 1965: The Symphony no.10 “Abraham Lincoln Symphony” by Roy Harris (67) is performed for the first time, at Long Beach State College, California on the centennial of Lincoln’s murder.
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January 22, 1967: Childhood Memories of Ocean Moods for two violins, viola, cello, bass, and piano by Roy Harris (68) is performed for the first time, in the auditorium of Laguna Beach High School, California.
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February 8, 1968: Symphony no.11 by Roy Harris (69) is performed for the first time, in Philharmonic Hall, New York the composer conducting.
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February 24, 1968: Part of Symphony no.12 “Pere Marquette Symphony” by Roy Harris (70) is performed for the first time, in Uihlein Auditorium, Milwaukee. See 8 November 1969.
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November 8, 1968: Symphony no.12 “Pere Marquette Symphony” for tenor singer/speaker and orchestra by Roy Harris (70) to words of the Catholic Mass and the Bible, is performed completely for the first time, in Uihlein Auditorium, Milwaukee. See 24 February 1968.
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December 9, 1968: Concerto for amplified piano, brass, string basses, and percussion by Roy Harris (70) is performed for the first time, in Royce Hall at the University of California at Los Angeles, the composer conducting.
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June 14, 1970: Peace and Goodwill to All for chorus, brass, organ, and percussion by Roy Harris (72) is performed for the first time, in Bel Air Presbyterian Church, California.
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March 14, 1971: Whether This Nation for chorus and band by Roy Harris (73) to his own words, is performed for the first time, in Schoenberg Hall, UCLA.
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February 21, 1973: Cindy for chorus by Roy Harris (75) is performed for the first time, in University Theatre, California State University, Los Angeles.
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May 20, 1973: Cantata to Life by Roy Harris (75) to words of Gibran is performed for the first time, in Dikelspiel Auditorium, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California.
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February 10, 1976: Bicentennial Symphony 1976 (Symphony no.13) for chorus and orchestra by Roy Harris (77) to words of the US Constitution, Abraham Lincoln, and himself, is performed for the first time, in the Kennedy Center, Washington.
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May 27, 1976: America, We Hear Your People for chorus and band by Roy Harris (78) to his own words is performed for the first time, at Citrus College, Azusa, California.
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October 10, 1976: Rejoice and Sing for bass, string quartet, and piano by Roy Harris (78) to words of the Bible and Whitman is performed for the first time, in Murphy Auditorium, New Harmony, Indiana.
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October 1, 1979: After a series of strokes, Roy Harris dies of atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease in Santa Monica, California, USA, aged 81 years, seven months, and 19 days.  His mortal remains will be cremated and spread in the Pacific Ocean off California.
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March 21, 1984: Concerto for violin and orchestra by Roy Harris (†4) is performed for the first time, in Asheville, North Carolina, 35 years after it was composed.
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December 9, 1989: Lyric Studies for woodwinds and piano by Roy Harris (†10) is performed for the first time, at the 92nd Street Y, New York.